Venezuela

On January 7, two gunmen burst into the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, killing eight journalists and bringing into focus the risks cartoonists face. But with the ability of their work to transcend borders and languages, and to simplify complex political situations, the threats faced by cartoonists around the world—who are being imprisoned, forced into hiding, threatened with legal action or killed—far exceed Islamic extremism. A Committee to Protect Journalists special report by Shawn W. Crispin

In more than a decade in power, President Hugo Chávez Frías has
overseen the transformation of nearly every aspect of Venezuelan society,
including the media. When Chávez came to office in 1999, he enjoyed the support
of the country’s established private media. But the relationship soon soured,
and in April 2002 he was briefly deposed in a coup that he alleges was carried
out with the support of key media owners. Today, several of the most critical
media outlets are either gone or scared into silence, and a vast state media
presence echoes the government’s positions. By Joel Simon

The Chávez administration has used an array of legislation,
threats, and regulatory measures to gradually break down Venezuela’s
independent press while building up a state media empire—a complete reversal of
the previous landscape. One result: Vital issues are going uncovered in an
election year. A CPJ special report by Monica
Campbell

Many state media in Latin American are used for
political propaganda, but the Venezuelan government has built an unprecedented
media empire that it uses to attack critics and independent journalists and
obscure issues like crime and inflation. By
Carlos Lauría

The recent
regulatory probe into coverage at Globovisión, the only TV broadcaster
critical of the Chávez administration, is the latest in a long string of
investigations and other harassment. The network is struggling to stay afloat. By Monica Campbell

The mysterious
group N33 has targeted the online accounts of journalists critical of the Chávez
administration. The victims are subject to fake messages, insults, and
intimidating threats. By John Otis

Since President Hugo Chávez Frías took office more than a decade ago, legislation, threats, and regulatory measures have withered Venezuela’s independent press even as the state has built a huge media empire. Carlos Lauría, CPJ's Americas Senior Program Coordinator, talks about the developments in this podcast. Listen on the player above, or right click here to download an MP3. (2:05)

CPJ survey finds at least 68 journalists killed in 2009

New York, December 17, 2009—At least 68 journalists worldwide were killed for their work in 2009, the highest yearly tally ever documented by the Committee to Protect Journalists, the organization said in its year-end analysis. The record toll was driven in large part by the election-related slaughter of more than 30 media workers in the Philippine province of Maguindanao, the deadliest event for the press in CPJ history.

New York, December 8, 2009—Freelancers now make up nearly 45 percent of all journalists jailed worldwide, a dramatic recent increase that reflects the evolution of the global news business, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In its annual census of imprisoned journalists, CPJ found a total of 136 reporters, editors, and photojournalists behind bars on December 1, an increase of 11 from the 2008 tally. (Read detailed accounts of each imprisoned journalist.) A massive crackdown in Iran, where 23 journalists are now in jail, fueled the worldwide increase.